Strictly Come Dancing host Shirley Ballas has received hundreds of responses to a post detailing the death of her aunt.
The 65-year-old shared details of the personal loss ahead of the Strictly final this weekend, penning a lengthy caption in which she wondered where to begin in paying tribute to her ‘dearest’ Auntie Mavis.
Underneath a photo of Shirley hugging her late aunt, she wrote: ‘How I’ll miss you so very much. I’ll miss all your sayings of “you’re right love”, “do you know what I mean like love”, “yeah I know” and I’d say “no you don’t know Mavis”. That one was my favourite.’
The Strictly judge went on to say that her aunt had always been there as a support for Shirley and her family, describing her as ‘like a second mum to me’.
She also thanked her aunt for religiously tuning in to Strictly – but only to see what frock Shirley had on for the episode. ‘That always made me smile,’ she wrote on Instagram.
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‘Mum and I are sad you’re not here with us any more, Mavis. We will treasure the memories. Mum has many that’s for sure. Her best friend of over 65 years,’ Shirley added.
‘The bond between Mavis and my mother was absolutely unbreakable. We will miss every minute of every second not chatting with you, talking with you and you making us laugh with all your antics.’
Shirley shared her hopes her aunt could rest in peace with her late husband and her daughter Helen, adding: ‘We will celebrate you often, talk about you often, laugh often with all the things that you and my mum got up to. I truly thought that you would live forever, Mavis.
‘Thank you for always being there for me through the ups, through the downs and through all the parts of my life.
‘I’ll treasure every single memory I ever had with you. Rest in peace beautiful Mavis,’ she concluded, signing off from herself and her mum Audrey.
In the comments section, several of Shirley’s Strictly pals shared their words of encouragement in the wake of her loss. Neil Jones posted a simple heart emoji, while Claudia Winkleman wrote: ‘Sending all my love.’
Meanwhile, Shirley’s fans also shared their words of condolence, with Carys penning in the comments: ‘So incredibly sorry for your loss Shirley. Sending so much love.’
‘She sounds like a wonderful lady. Condolences to you and your mum,’ chimed Kat von D.
Strictly Come Dancing continues on Saturday on BBC One.
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